Au Chocolate

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey

Au Bout du Monde Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Chardonnay 2022

Somm David T
9.2

A few things first.

This Jasper Hill Farms Harbison is the creamiest, gooey delight out there, once you let it warm up. I take it out a 1/2 hour before serving. It is wrapped in spruce cambium, which is the inner bark layer of a spruce tree. Gives it a interesting characteristic. Always a great pair with WB and or Blanc de Blanc Champagne.

PYCM is simply one of the better & consistent white burgundy producers. They’re close to town and not far from Olivier Leflaive. Right around the corner basically.

2020-23 has been a good run in white burgundy. Maybe, 24 too. Not sure yet. I haven’t had a big enough sample size yet. The ones I have had, very good.

The nose reveals; Meyer lemon, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, white stone fruits, honeycomb, frothy cream, light caramel, some herbaceous notes, paraffin, sea fossils, saline, grey volcanics, dry limestone, chalky powder, yellow & white lilies that remind me of funeral arrangements.

The palate is round to thick, vicious & waxy. The flavors mirror the nose. Meyer lemon, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, white stone fruits, honeycomb, frothy cream, butterscotch, caramel, some herbaceous notes, white spice that palate burro’s w/ pleasant heat, paraffin, sea fossils, saline, grey volcanic fine bits, dry limestone, chalky powder, with tiny bits, yellow & white lilies that remind me of funeral arrangements, rainfall acidity with a round, lush, well balanced finish w/ good length/tension and lasts two-minutes long setting on earth-volcanics & spice.
— a month ago

Ming, Jay and 5 others liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Dark fruit in the nose with plums, black cherries, leather and blackberries in the palate. Paired well with steak au poivre. Drank in 2026, could use aeration to fully enjoy the wine. — 3 months ago

Joel, Somm and 7 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Their 2023 Artemis took a nice step up in quality. Fruit now comes from the estate.

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Coconut, chocolate, dill, cherries, and a hint of pepper. Milder tannins and medium bodied with a big mid palate and earthy finish. — 5 months ago

Lou Ann Mowry
with Lou
Tom liked this

Au Bon Climat

"Isabelle" California Pinot Noir 2021

Perfumed red fruits.

Cherry, zippy structure, earthen, licorice, fennel.
— 7 months ago

romo liked this

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot 2021

Ming L
9.0

Dismissed by many as too jammy or too ripe, I’ve always thought this is the fun bottling. This ‘21 is no exception. Beneath the slightly over extracted ripe dark fruits lies quite complex aromas and flavors of figs, sweet spices, dark chocolate, smoke meat, and hint of balsamic. Rich palate but not overbearing. In a good vintage like ‘21, this can benefit for 5-8 years of bottle age.
My guilty pleasure.
— 2 years ago

Tom, Bob and 1 other liked this

Au Bon Climat

Hildegard Estate Bottled Santa Maria Valley White Blend 2018

Apple, lemon candy, dried apricot, oak and hints of peach. Great acidity and balance. — 3 years ago

Milissa liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1959

Dark tawny center with amber color and clear rims. Barely translucent. Massive nose of tobacco and Cuban cigar with notes of sweet black fruit, moist dark soil, unsweetened chocolate, pencil lead, old cedar desk wood and a little barnyard. Great mouth feel and texture. Very much alive. Opened and slow-ox’d for a few hours, then put in a decanter an hour before. This powered up all night. Last sip was the best. I’ve probably had more LB than any other Bordeaux (young and old, mostly old), and this was head and shoulders better than any previous bottle. Great juice! — 4 years ago

Ira, Eric and 22 others liked this
Ron R

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Wow.
Brent Young

Brent Young Premium Badge

@Mike Saviage Very nice 👍

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

+1 hour decant(modest sediment). A striking still dark purplish crimson color with bricking. On the nose: Seductive notes of dark fruit, sandalwood, cigar wrapper, herbaceous, stewed meat, pencil lead, worn leather. Taste: silky, layered, vibrant wine with dried plum/cherry, cigar leaf, graphite, that Cos spice, crushed gravel, hint of chocolate, and a hauntingly long dry finish. YUM! Terrific old school Bordeaux. — 10 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Dave and 16 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

Somm David T
9.5

I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.

My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.

The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.

The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.

95-96 peaking.
— a month ago

Tom, Jay and 8 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

[Tasted on March 19, 2026 at Home]

Blackberry and black cherry fruit, with vanilla, chocolate and licorice notes. Plush wine which has aged well.
— 6 months ago

Boekenhoutskloof

The Chocolate Block Cinsault Blend 2023

Light fruity aroma, dark red, medium body, dry and succulent, dark fruit flavor, paired nicely with venison. — 7 months ago

Au Bon Climat

Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Estate Bottled Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2021

Apparently this translates to “up all night” or something heeeeeyyyyy — 2 years ago

Dylan liked this

Austin Hope

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Another outstanding vintage! Dark ruby color. Aromas of black currant, black cherry tobacco and dark chocolate. Bold blackberry and cherry flavors with vanilla, dried spices and oak. Long and smoky finish. Full bodied, lush, powerful and rich. Bright acidity and firm tannins. Beautifully complex. Revisited again in July 2023. My Boss loved it! — 3 years ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

Dark ruby in color with a wide purplish rim.

Earthy nose and medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with cedar, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, mediterranean spices and chocolate notes.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries.

This Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is extremely young and needs 10 years in the bottle to mature properly. Elegant and fruit forward, yet restrained.

I've had many different vintages of this wine, but never had it so young. Not as powerful as some other vintages, but already complex and nicely balanced.

Feels like a good quality Left Bank Bordeaux, and will continue to age nicely, and get better in the next 20 years.

Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$490.
— 2 days ago

Dave, Dick and 11 others liked this

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir

Amy
9.0

master the world — loved!! — 3 months ago

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2023

Pale lemon color with stone and tropical fruit aromas and citrus floral notes adding an earthy spice from 10 months surlie aging. On the palate flavors of apple, pineapple and lemon citrus with floral and baking spice. Lively acidity, medium finish ending with fruit, citrus and earthy spice. — 5 months ago

Paul, Juan and 1 other liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A striking medium purplish garnet color with bricking. On the nose: Inviting notes of dried red fruit, currants, pencil shavings, floral, stewed meat, milk chocolate. Taste: fully mature, savory, silky wine with dried plum, ground coffee, earth, minerals, tobacco, and a sour cherry/green bell pepper/graphite long finish. YUM!! Drink em if you got em. — 6 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Sharon and 10 others liked this

Cakebread Cellars

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Medium bodied, berries & chocolate, low acid. Delicious — 8 months ago

Robin, Dave and 9 others liked this

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Gris - Pinot Blanc Blend 2021

Eric I
9.2

Great wine to pair with an LSU loss — 3 years ago

Au Bon Climat

Knox Alexander Estate Bottled Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2018

Schoolbook pinot with warm strawberry and sloeberry fruit. Cranberries on the finish. Some oak and spices on the finish. Simply very enjoyable! — 4 years ago